Module 15 : Draw Me A Star

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SUMMARY

This books is a simple book, with simple illustrations. The narrator asks to have an object drawn, and then used adjectives to describe it. Towards the end of the book, there are step-by-step instructions on how to draw a star, and then the star asks the artist to hold on to it, and they take flight across the nighttime sky.

APA REFERENCE

Carle, E. (1992). Draw me a star. New York: Philomel Books.

IMPRESSIONS

Eric Carle wrote this book for his father, and although they are simply written words, they are sweet and tender. The illustrations are done in true Eric Carle fashion, and I imagine it's on a controversial book list because of the nude illustrations that resemble Adam and Eve by a tree.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

[Review of the book Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle]. Kirkus review retrieved on 12/02/14 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/eric-carle/draw-me-a-star/.

A remarkable, quintessentially simple book encompassing Creation, creativity, and the cycle of life within the eternal. Introduced on the title page as a toddler drawing the first of five lines to make a star, an artist ages until, at the end, he's an old man who takes hold of a star to travel the night sky. Meanwhile, the first star says, "Draw me the sun"; the sun says, "Draw me a tree," and so on: woman and man; house, dog, cat, bird, butterfly, flowers, cloud; a rainbow arching over the middle-aged artist's whole creation; and back to the night and the stars. Carle's trademark style--vibrant tissue collage on dramatic white--is wonderfully effective in expressing the joy of creation, while the economy with which he conveys these universal ideas gives them extraordinary power. Yet the story is disarmingly childlike, concluding with an ingenuous letter from the author with instructions for drawing an eight-point star. Thanks be to the book for asking Carle to "draw" it! (Picture book. 3+)

LIBRARY USES

This would be a great collaborative lesson with an art teacher. The story could be read during library time, and then reinforced in art class. The students could also incorporate writing, and the two could be paired and hung on a library display.

Module 14 : Llama, Llama Red Pajama

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SUMMARY
Llama, Llama in his red pajamas is getting ready for bedtime. Throughout all the rhyming words, the llama and mamma go through a typical evening events that most parents of young children experience. He is waiting for his momma to put him to bed, but momma got busy and llama started to fuss. Eventually his momma comes back to tuck him in and reassures his that she will always be there.


APA REFERENCE
Dewdney, A. (2005). Llama Llama red pajama. New York: Viking.


IMPRESSIONS

I enjoyed this book, and found it very humorous. It reminded me of when I would have to put my kids to bed when they were younger.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

[Review of the book Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney]. Kirkus Review retrieved on November 30, 2014 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anna-dewdney/llama-llama-red-pajama/.

Dewdney’s authorial debut is an uproariously funny tale detailing the true events that occur between lights out and when a wee one actually falls asleep. Feeling bereft after his mother leaves the room, little Llama soon calls down for a drink of water. What happens between that moment and his mom’s arrival is a treat for seasoned parents and a eureka moment for young readers. With unerring accuracy, Dewdney perfectly captures the existential, pint-sized angst little ones experience after they are tucked in for the night. With dead-on comic timing, Dewdney’s snappy verses convey the juxtaposition of little Llama’s escalating anxiety and Mama’s last minute efforts to get something done before heading back up to the room. The full-color, full-bleed illustrations are an intrinsic part of why this tale works so well. The combination of little Llama’s expressions with the ever-darkening hues expertly capture his growing concerns. When Llama’s worries reach their climactic peak, Mama’s sensible but sensitive response soothes both her ruffled baby and young readers alike. Dewdney’s tale is bound to become a comical classic oft-requested at bedtime. (Picture book. 3-7)

LIBRARY USES
This is a great read aloud for young children. This could also be used to teach rhyming words.

Module 13 : Bone Book - Quest for the Spark:Book 2

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SUMMARY

In this book an evil dragon named Nacht threatens to destroy the world. Tom is the young boy who has been chosen to go against Nacht to stop him from his madness. They go around trying to find the Spark's missing pieces all while coming into contact with annoyances and dangerous animals.

APA REFERENCE

Sniegoski, T., & Smith, J. (2011). Bone : Quest for the spark. New York: Graphix.

IMPRESSIONS

Graphic novels are my least favorite genre, so this book was very hard for me to get through. I struggled to finish, and the pictures are too "all over the place" and busy for me. 

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

[Review of the book Bone: Quest for the Spark by Tom Sniegoski]. Kirkus Review retrieved on November 23, 2014 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tom-sniegoski/bone-quest-spark/.

The Bone universe proves that it can still expand without spreading thin.
As introduced in the previous volume (2011), The Valley, still under a nightmare sleep, awaits rescue from a motley crew of Bones, beasts, a boy and a brawny priest. Jumping right in where the action left off, readers discover that the Nacht’s evil power is strengthening. Tom and his crew are still seeking to reunite pieces of the Spark, and in this adventure, they face some of the most dire peril the group has yet encountered: giant bears and bees, a horrible airship accident and the trek to distant Lorimar, a forest spirit with magical powers. As they battle and overcome these obstacles hurled at them by the Nacht, it seems that they’re getting closer to waking the Valley—but does the Nacht have a plan that may sabotage the group from within? Sniegoski’s writing is strong and swift, and it properly propels the action needed to fuel such a broad crusade. However, those new to the series will want to read this series sequentially: The burst into action offers little back story, and many of the running jokes will be missed without it. An expected cliffhanger will leave readers clamoring for the final installment.
A nimble, expertly paced middle-grade adventure yarn. (Fantasy/adventure. 9 & up)

LIBRARY USES

I can see recommending this to boys and reluctant readers. They seem to be attracted to this type of book.

Module 12 : Rosa

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SUMMARY

This is a story about Rosa Parks, an African American woman who refused to give her seat up on a bus in the 1950s. The book gives a personal history on Parks, and then seamlessly goes into her experiences of racism, and how she helped to peacefully prove her point that she was equal to the other passengers. Rosa and several of African American women protested riding the buses in order show her anger for how she was treated.

APA REFERENCE

Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt.

IMPRESSIONS

The illustrations in this book perfectly emote how she felt at that time. The faces are softly painted, while at the same time, look like they are a collage on the pages. This story is a breath of fresh air to read how peaceful demonstrations are far more effective than riots and fighting.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
[Review of the book Rosa by Nikki Giovanni]. Kirkus Review retrieved on 11/17/14 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nikki-giovanni/rosa-3/.

Rosa Parks sat. “She had not sought this moment, but she was ready for it.” When she refused to move out of the neutral section of her bus to make way for white passengers, she sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. She was tired of putting white people first. Giovanni’s lyrical text and Collier’s watercolor-and-collage illustrations combine for a powerful portrayal of a pivotal moment in the civil-rights movement. The art complements and extends the text, with visual references to Emmett Till, the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Martin Luther King, Jr. The yellowish hue of the illustrations represents the Alabama heat, the light emanating from Rosa Parks’s face a shining beacon to all who would stand up for what’s right. A dramatic foldout mural will make this important work even more memorable. An essential volume for classrooms and libraries. (Picture book. 5+)

LIBRARY USES

With the recent news stories about rioting and violence about racism that still surrounds our country, this book would be a great story on peaceful protests and demonstrations. This book also has a bit of Martin Luther King, Jr. in it as well. This can be a great read to compare against the current events our country is now dealing with. It can also be read during February, which is Black History Month. 

Module 11 : 14 Cows for America

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SUMMARY

This story is about Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah,from Africa, who goes to the United States to attend medical school. While he is in America, he experiences one of the most devastating events in United States history: September 11, 2001. He recounts his emotions and and mass chaos to his village back home. To his village, cows are sacred, and Kimeli then asks if their tribe can show support to America by blessing and dedicating cows.

APA REFERENCE

Deedy, C., & Naiyomah, W. (2009). 14 cows for America. Atlanta, Ga.: Peachtree.

IMPRESSIONS

This short story is written eloquently, and with a lot of emotion. At times, the reader can feel the pain he feels for the Americans. The illustrations are swift, light, and beautiful, as they exude the grandness of the sunrises and sunsets of the African sky.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
[Review of the book 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy]. Kirkus Review retrieved 11/10/14 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/carmen-agra-deedy/14-cows-for-america/
 

Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah is about to return home, to a small village in Kenya. He has been studying to become a doctor in the United States. Amid a joyous homecoming, the children in the village ask if he has brought any stories. He has only one; one that has “burned a hole in his heart.” Naiyomah was in New York City on September 11. In gentle yet piercing present-tense prose, storyteller Deedy introduces readers to a young Maasai scholar who wants nothing more than to help a nation heal. In Maasai tradition, cows are sacred, and Naiyomah asks the elders to bless his cow so he can offer it to grieving Americans. In an incredible show of compassion and strength, other villagers join him. Fourteen cows in all, from one tiny Kenyan village, prove that hope and friendship can cross all boundaries. Gonzalez’s saturated paintings, glowing with oranges, reds and browns, radiate a warmth that is matched only by the Maasai’s generosity. A stirring, heartwarming tale that made headlines when it happened—and is now, thankfully, preserved on the page for children. (afterword) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

LIBRARY USES
This book would be a great library short read, and to show how other countries support America. This can be read on September 11, to show a sense of hope and how far we have come. 

Module 10 : The Hallelujah Flight

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SUMMARY

Hallelujah Flight is a beautiful example of following your dreams through hard work and determination. James Banning had a dream, and that dream was to be the first African American to pilot a plane across the United States. He and Mr. Allen had all sorts of obstacles and deterrents that could have made some people quit. However, with a deep dream and lots of will-power they accomplished their goals, and dubbed their flight the Hallelujah Flight.

APA
Bildner, P., & Holyfield, J. (2010). The Hallelujah Flight. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

IMPRESSIONS

It is hard to not fall in love with this book storyline, illustrations, and characters. The two men have determination, yet the reader sees a little humor in the dialog too. It is refreshing to see such a strong story have such a light hearted approach.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
[Review of the book Hallelujah Flight written by Phil Bildner]. Kirkus Review retrieved on 11/05/14 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/phil-bildner/the-hallelujah-flight/.

Pioneering aviator James Banning dreamed of becoming the first African-American to fly across the country, though his biplane was old and worn. Co-pilot Thomas Allen relates how that dream came true in 1932 thanks to the help of people across the country, who contributed encouragement and practical support and wrote their names on the airplane’s wings to be part of the adventure. Based on both fictional and nonfiction sources, the story is briskly told in Allen’s voice, with plenty of imagined dialogue. Holyfield’s gorgeous oil paintings are done on textured backgrounds in a palette of blues and browns. Occasional double-page spreads emphasize the breadth of Banning’s vision, while the majority of scenes show events along the way: their tiny biplane above the Grand Canyon; angry white townspeople refusing to serve them food; a ferocious storm in Pennsylvania. Naysayers called them the “Flying Hoboes” but they called it “The Hallelujah Flight.” Hallelujah, indeed, to Bildner for finding and telling this story. Pair with Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznick (1999), to illustrate the excitement of early flight. (Picture book. 5-8)

LIBRARY USES

This book would be good to be used during Black History Month and to also promote student's goals and dreams. These two men were determined and no matter what others thought, they always stayed true to their dreams and ambitions.

Module 9 : Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown

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SUMMARY

Aunt Molly's wallet was stolen at the circus. Cam begins to think that there is a clown that is up to something, and she's going to get to the bottom of it.

APA REFERENCE

Adler, D. (1998). Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown. New York: Penguin Group.

IMPRESSIONS

This was a cute book with some twists and turns for a young reader to enjoy. Cam Jansen are easy reads and a great way to get young readers into chapter books.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

[Review of the book Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown by David Adler]. Kirkus Review retrieved on October 27, 2014 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-a-adler-25/cam-jansen-and-the-mystery-of-the-circus-clown/

The latest Cam Jansen mystery, alas, is an open-and-shut case that makes only minimal use of her trademark photographic memory. (With a moment's thought, Cam's sidekick Eric could have solved it--and even the inattentive reader can hardly miss.) Cam, Eric, and Cam's scatty, loquacious, globe-girdling Aunt Molly (who supplies a smidgin of comic interest) are at the circus. Aunt Molly's wallet disappears. Other people's wallets disappear. A clown has bumped those people. Clown's themselves tan disappear, notes Cam, by shedding their disguises. At this point another clown misdirects her away from the Bumping Clown-who, it turns out, is his (female) accomplice. Nothing quite clicks (Cam even has to verify her own hunches here); but fans of the series will probably forgive it an occasional lapse.

LIBRARY USES
This book could be suggested to a small group for book club or a young reader starting chapter books.